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Poverty remains stubborn problem in area schools

Students line up for lunch at the cafeteria in Bunnell Elementary School in Bunnell on Tuesday. Nearly two of three Flagler students receive free or discounted meals through a federal program for students living near or below the poverty line.

Published: Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at 5:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at 10:35 p.m.

BUNNELL — For a snapshot of poverty in Flagler County, look at the children's feet.

There are students wearing shoes held together with duct tape. Shoes too small or too large. Or sandals, which aren't allowed at school, where the rules call for closed-toed footwear.

Look at school lunch lines, where nearly two of three Flagler students receive free or discounted meals through a federal program for students living near or below the poverty line. The percentage of students who qualify for the program has surged faster in Flagler than in any other county in Florida over the past decade, according to the Florida Department of Education. Part of the reason is that Flagler's overall enrollment nearly doubled during that same period.

The percentage of low-income families has increased in Volusia County, too. About half of the students there are deemed poor enough to eat lunch for free, up from one-third five years ago.

The percentage of students paying, or not paying, for their lunches at each school and in each county has long been the most prominent way to gauge the prosperity of local families. Children from a four-person family are eligible to receive free lunches if their household income is less than $29,965 annually.

Unemployment rates also are high in the two counties: Flagler posted an 11.2 percent unemployment rate in December — the highest in the state — while Volusia hit a four-year low of 8.1 percent. Though the number of job seekers has fallen in recent months, school staff members report thousands of families are still in need.

"The way the economy is today, it's really hard for a family where there's not somebody working to provide their kids' basic needs," said Susan Bickings, a counselor at Bunnell Elementary. "We want (children) to be thinking about their education."

Money worries often filter into the schools, sometimes hampering students' performance in class, but Bunnell and Flagler County's four other traditional elementary schools earned "A" grades from the Florida Department of Education last year. Yet Bunnell has among the largest proportion of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches in the county.

Hard times are nothing new there.

Helping students from struggling families is "something that Bunnell has dealt with for many years," Principal Richard Dupont said. Faculty members are trained in the Ruby Payne method, which is designed to help teachers work with children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Some things, he adds, don't change when the economy turns sour. He points to a strong faculty and parents with a "good school ethic" who continue to nurture their children after school.

"Any time you work with kids, you've got to get them to believe they can," Dupont said. "And if they believe they can, they will."

CAFETERIA LINES FEEL THE HIT

Like other school programs, the last several years have brought lean times for Flagler's school cafeterias. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reimburses schools for meals served to all students, including those who pay full price, though schools receive more money for meals served to low-income students.

As more children become eligible for free and discounted meals through the USDA program, a la carte sales, once "a huge source of revenue" in Flagler cafeterias, have dwindled from $1.1 million to $700,000 annually over the past eight years, said Angela Torres, director of food services.

Unlike the complete meals offered in the main serving lines, items sold in a la carte lines aren't eligible for reimbursement through the USDA program. But these days, fewer students are able to spare a dollar or change to purchase snacks, sports drinks or sandwiches offered a la carte.

"Over the past eight years, our focus has completely shifted from a la carte and specialty items to main line (service) because of that," Torres said. "It's getting tighter and tighter each year, so we're definitely having to come up with ways to decrease the costs and increase revenue."

That's meant pooling food purchases with other districts to drive down costs and providing catering services on the side for county functions and other events.

But there's also a silver lining: The schools are able to offer free breakfast to all students, regardless of family income, because so many students qualify for free meals that their USDA reimbursements cover breakfast for all.

In Volusia County, the rising number of children eligible for free and discounted meals hasn't significantly impacted the food service program's bottom line, but new federal guidelines that require students to take fruit items with their meals have doubled the district's spending on fruit. A la carte purchases have dropped there too, said School Way Café director Joan Young, though her aim is to "break even" whether students are purchasing individual items or complete meals through the main cafeteria line.

"We're trying to provide the best prices for the kids," she said.

COMMUNITY OFFERS HELP

For Flagler students who have the greatest need, the STUFF bus rolls between schools, passing out clothing, notebooks, paper, backpacks, toiletries and more since November 2009. The STUFF bus, an acronym for "Supplying Things U Find Fundamental," is an initiative of the nonprofit Flagler County Education Foundation.

Volusia also has a number of programs to help families in need. The schools served more than 2,200 homeless students during the 2011-2012 school year, homeless liaison Pam Woods said, and officials expect to see the same number when classes end in June. Many others are struggling, and Woods tries to connect them with services before they're out on the streets.

"What's sad is that they may be living on the edge, and one little thing may tip them into homelessness," Woods said.

For struggling families, the Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler counties passes out backpacks at the start of the year, while the Clothes To You mobile unit distributes clothes throughout the year. A Give Kids a Smile event in February provides dental care for disadvantaged youngsters. Woods keeps gift cards on hand for children who need new clothes or shoes in a pinch.

At Bunnell Elementary, Bickings recently boarded the STUFF bus to select a new backpack for a young girl. Dozens of athletic shoes hang from the shelves, with enough sizes to fit toddlers to teenagers. The bus is stocked to meet most needs on the spot, but volunteers sometimes fill unusual needs, like size 12 women's shoes or men's shorts for a stout kindergartener.

Though volunteers Pat Bueltman and Scott Combs estimate they dole out 4,000 pencils per month, shoes are among the most-requested items. Counselors and teachers identify students who need clothing or basic school supplies. Parents sometimes decline the help, saying they'll take their child to buy new shoes over the weekend. But most of the time, Bickings said, they're "very grateful."

"The STUFF bus is even more necessary than it was in the past because when kids need stuff, need essentials, they can't focus on learning," she said.

The need is great in Flagler County, but so is the generosity of donors. The foundation aimed to raise $25,000 for the bus for the 2012-2013 fiscal year and they've nearly met that already, executive director Deborah Williams said. She estimates the foundation spends an average of $25 on each student served.

"We could double or triple the program if we extended that invitation more aggressively to schools," she said.

Other residents sometimes say they don't see poverty in their county, Bueltman said. The former foundation board member tells them if they're eyeing the recently-built homes or the people in the aisles of their grocery store, they're looking in the wrong places.

"You see it in the kid wearing his cousin's sneakers that are two sizes too big," she said.

A boy with ill-fitting shoes couldn't run during recess or gym class until he received a never-worn pair in his size from the STUFF bus.

"He picked up a shoe, looked at the bottom of it, and said, 'These are the first new shoes I've ever had.' "

<p>BUNNELL &mdash; For a snapshot of poverty in Flagler County, look at the children's feet. </p><p>There are students wearing shoes held together with duct tape. Shoes too small or too large. Or sandals, which aren't allowed at school, where the rules call for closed-toed footwear.</p><p>Look at school lunch lines, where nearly two of three Flagler students receive free or discounted meals through a federal program for students living near or below the poverty line. The percentage of students who qualify for the program has surged faster in Flagler than in any other county in Florida over the past decade, according to the Florida Department of Education. Part of the reason is that Flagler's overall enrollment nearly doubled during that same period.</p><p>The percentage of low-income families has increased in Volusia County, too. About half of the students there are deemed poor enough to eat lunch for free, up from one-third five years ago. </p><p>The percentage of students paying, or not paying, for their lunches at each school and in each county has long been the most prominent way to gauge the prosperity of local families. Children from a four-person family are eligible to receive free lunches if their household income is less than $29,965 annually. </p><p>Unemployment rates also are high in the two counties: Flagler posted an 11.2 percent unemployment rate in December &mdash; the highest in the state &mdash; while Volusia hit a four-year low of 8.1 percent. Though the number of job seekers has fallen in recent months, school staff members report thousands of families are still in need.</p><p>"The way the economy is today, it's really hard for a family where there's not somebody working to provide their kids' basic needs," said Susan Bickings, a counselor at Bunnell Elementary. "We want (children) to be thinking about their education." </p><p>Money worries often filter into the schools, sometimes hampering students' performance in class, but Bunnell and Flagler County's four other traditional elementary schools earned "A" grades from the Florida Department of Education last year. Yet Bunnell has among the largest proportion of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches in the county.</p><p>Hard times are nothing new there. </p><p>Helping students from struggling families is "something that Bunnell has dealt with for many years," Principal Richard Dupont said. Faculty members are trained in the Ruby Payne method, which is designed to help teachers work with children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Some things, he adds, don't change when the economy turns sour. He points to a strong faculty and parents with a "good school ethic" who continue to nurture their children after school.</p><p>"Any time you work with kids, you've got to get them to believe they can," Dupont said. "And if they believe they can, they will."</p><p></p><p><b>CAFETERIA LINES FEEL THE HIT</b> </p><p> </p><p></p><p>Like other school programs, the last several years have brought lean times for Flagler's school cafeterias. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reimburses schools for meals served to all students, including those who pay full price, though schools receive more money for meals served to low-income students. </p><p>As more children become eligible for free and discounted meals through the USDA program, a la carte sales, once "a huge source of revenue" in Flagler cafeterias, have dwindled from $1.1 million to $700,000 annually over the past eight years, said Angela Torres, director of food services. </p><p>Unlike the complete meals offered in the main serving lines, items sold in a la carte lines aren't eligible for reimbursement through the USDA program. But these days, fewer students are able to spare a dollar or change to purchase snacks, sports drinks or sandwiches offered a la carte. </p><p>"Over the past eight years, our focus has completely shifted from a la carte and specialty items to main line (service) because of that," Torres said. "It's getting tighter and tighter each year, so we're definitely having to come up with ways to decrease the costs and increase revenue." </p><p>That's meant pooling food purchases with other districts to drive down costs and providing catering services on the side for county functions and other events.</p><p>But there's also a silver lining: The schools are able to offer free breakfast to all students, regardless of family income, because so many students qualify for free meals that their USDA reimbursements cover breakfast for all. </p><p>In Volusia County, the rising number of children eligible for free and discounted meals hasn't significantly impacted the food service program's bottom line, but new federal guidelines that require students to take fruit items with their meals have doubled the district's spending on fruit. A la carte purchases have dropped there too, said School Way Café director Joan Young, though her aim is to "break even" whether students are purchasing individual items or complete meals through the main cafeteria line. </p><p>"We're trying to provide the best prices for the kids," she said. </p><p></p><p><b>COMMUNITY OFFERS HELP </b></p><p></p><p>For Flagler students who have the greatest need, the STUFF bus rolls between schools, passing out clothing, notebooks, paper, backpacks, toiletries and more since November 2009. The STUFF bus, an acronym for "Supplying Things U Find Fundamental," is an initiative of the nonprofit Flagler County Education Foundation. </p><p>Volusia also has a number of programs to help families in need. The schools served more than 2,200 homeless students during the 2011-2012 school year, homeless liaison Pam Woods said, and officials expect to see the same number when classes end in June. Many others are struggling, and Woods tries to connect them with services before they're out on the streets. </p><p>"What's sad is that they may be living on the edge, and one little thing may tip them into homelessness," Woods said. </p><p>For struggling families, the Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler counties passes out backpacks at the start of the year, while the Clothes To You mobile unit distributes clothes throughout the year. A Give Kids a Smile event in February provides dental care for disadvantaged youngsters. Woods keeps gift cards on hand for children who need new clothes or shoes in a pinch. </p><p>At Bunnell Elementary, Bickings recently boarded the STUFF bus to select a new backpack for a young girl. Dozens of athletic shoes hang from the shelves, with enough sizes to fit toddlers to teenagers. The bus is stocked to meet most needs on the spot, but volunteers sometimes fill unusual needs, like size 12 women's shoes or men's shorts for a stout kindergartener. </p><p>Though volunteers Pat Bueltman and Scott Combs estimate they dole out 4,000 pencils per month, shoes are among the most-requested items. Counselors and teachers identify students who need clothing or basic school supplies. Parents sometimes decline the help, saying they'll take their child to buy new shoes over the weekend. But most of the time, Bickings said, they're "very grateful." </p><p>"The STUFF bus is even more necessary than it was in the past because when kids need stuff, need essentials, they can't focus on learning," she said. </p><p>The need is great in Flagler County, but so is the generosity of donors. The foundation aimed to raise $25,000 for the bus for the 2012-2013 fiscal year and they've nearly met that already, executive director Deborah Williams said. She estimates the foundation spends an average of $25 on each student served. </p><p>"We could double or triple the program if we extended that invitation more aggressively to schools," she said. </p><p>Other residents sometimes say they don't see poverty in their county, Bueltman said. The former foundation board member tells them if they're eyeing the recently-built homes or the people in the aisles of their grocery store, they're looking in the wrong places. </p><p>"You see it in the kid wearing his cousin's sneakers that are two sizes too big," she said. </p><p>A boy with ill-fitting shoes couldn't run during recess or gym class until he received a never-worn pair in his size from the STUFF bus. </p><p>"He picked up a shoe, looked at the bottom of it, and said, 'These are the first new shoes I've ever had.' "</p>